Device and method for locking electrical plugs to power outlets

Abstract

The present invention comprises a method and a device for connecting and locking electrical plugs into power outlets. This prevents plugs from being shaken or accidentally withdrawn, and hence avoids any disturbance of electric current or occurrence of electric spark which may cause fires. In the case where no plug is plugged in, the current invention blocks the socket openings to prevent children from tampering with it or trying to insert any metal objects therein that might expose them to electric shocks. By this invention, an adult can connect and lock electrical plugs easily while it is impossible doing it by children. There are various embodiments of this invention making it suitable for use in many fields that need a continuous electrical feed without interruption such as medical devices, computers, factory equipment, and home appliances among many other examples.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A locking electrical receptacle ( 112 ) for receiving and releasably locking an electrical plug with any shape of prongs, comprising:
 a receptacle housing having a plurality of apertures ( 78 ,  80 ) for receiving prongs of the electrical plug; 
 at least two terminal contacts ( 42 ,  44 ); 
 a clamping mechanism ( 54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 ) comprising movable jaws ( 54 ,  56 ), said clamping mechanism being mounted between said at least two terminal contacts ( 42 ,  44 ) and said plurality of apertures ( 78 ,  80 ); and 
 an actuation means ( 66 ,  90 ) having locking and unlocking positions for actuating said clamping mechanism ( 54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 ), 
 wherein when said electrical plug is not inserted into said receptacle housing and said actuation means ( 66 ,  90 ) is set to a locking position, the clamping mechanism ( 54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 ) blocks said plurality of apertures ( 78 ,  80 ) to prevent insertion of any object inside and contacting the contacts ( 42 ,  44 ), thus enhancing safety; 
 wherein when the electrical plug is inserted into said receptacle housing and said actuation means is set to said locking position, said means urges said movable jaws ( 54 , 56 ) to apply a clamping force onto at least one of said prongs securely fastening said electrical plug in place. 
 
     
     
       2. The locking electrical receptacle ( 112 ) of  claim 1 , wherein said clamping force onto at least one of said prongs is applied symmetrically to prevent bending of said prongs. 
     
     
       3. The locking electrical receptacle ( 112 ) of  claim 1 , wherein said actuation means comprises a cam ( 90 ) for switching said clamping mechanism ( 54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 ) between fastening and releasing said prongs. 
     
     
       4. The locking electrical receptacle ( 112 ) of  claim 1 , wherein said actuation means comprises an oval cam ( 90 ) which has long and short sides such that switching between said long and short sides shifts said clamping mechanism ( 54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 ) between fastening and releasing said prongs. 
     
     
       5. The locking electrical receptacle ( 112 ) of  claim 1 , wherein said movable jaws ( 54 ,  56 ) comprise friction pads ( 58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 ) for increasing friction between said movable jaws ( 54 ,  56 ) and said prongs. 
     
     
       6. The locking electrical receptacle ( 112 ) of  claim 5 , wherein said friction pads ( 58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 ) are made from elastic material. 
     
     
       7. The locking electrical receptacle ( 112 ) of  claim 5 , wherein said friction pads ( 58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 ) are made from rubber. 
     
     
       8. A male electrical connector ( 114 ) for being connected and releasably anchored into a power outlet to prevent unintentional withdrawal by a withdrawal force comprising:
 a plurality of electrically conductive pins ( 34 ,  36 ) for contacting terminals of said power outlet, with at least one of said pins having a root portion with high friction surface ( 96 ,  98 ); and 
 an anchoring mechanism ( 26 ,  28 ,  38 ,  40 ) for diverting said withdrawal force to a lateral force and transmitting said lateral force to said pins, wherein said lateral force urges said pins to angularly deflect against bores of said power outlet causing said connector to anchor within said power outlet. 
 
     
     
       9. The electrical connector of  claim 8 , wherein said male connector is further comprises a releasing means ( 70 ,  108 ,  110 ) for deactivating said anchoring mechanism to install or remove said connector from said power outlet. 
     
     
       10. An electrical adapter ( 10 ) for connecting and releasably locking an electrical plug to a power outlet and preventing said plug from being removed by withdrawal force, comprising of:
 a first side having a male electrical connector ( 114 ) adapted to be inserted and releasably anchored into said power outlet comprising:
 a plurality of electrically conductive pins ( 34 ,  36 ) for contacting terminals of said power outlet, at least one of said pins having a root portion with high friction surface ( 96 ,  98 ); and 
 an anchoring mechanism ( 38 ,  40 ) capable of angularly deflecting at least one of said pins against bores of said power outlet causing said connector to anchor within said power outlet; 
 
 a second side having a locking electrical receptacle ( 112 ) for receiving and releasably locking said electrical plug comprising:
 a receptacle housing having a plurality of apertures ( 78 ,  80 ) for receiving prongs of said plug; and 
 at least two terminal contacts ( 42 ,  44 ) adapted to connect to said connector pins of said male connector; and 
 a clamping mechanism ( 54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 ) having locking and unlocking positions, said clamping mechanism being mounted between said terminal contacts and said plurality of apertures such that in said locking position, said clamping mechanism applies a clamping force on at least one of said prongs, and in said unlocking position, said clamping mechanism releases said clamping force from said prongs making said plug free to withdraw; and 
 an assembly means ( 50 ) for combining said first and second sides, said assembly means being structured for controlling said clamping mechanism of said locking receptacle and said anchoring mechanism of said electrical connector, wherein said assembly means is capable of synchronizing positions of said clamping mechanism and said anchoring mechanism such that both are in locking or unlocking positions simultaneously. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The adapter of  claim 10 , wherein said clamping mechanism comprises movable jaws ( 54 ,  56 ) having friction pads ( 58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 ). 
     
     
       12. The adapter of  claim 11 , wherein said jaws are guided by an oval cam ( 90 ) which has long and short sides such that said jaws are aligned with said short side when said clamping mechanism is in said locking position, and said jaws are aligned with said long side when said clamping mechanism is in said unlocking position. 
     
     
       13. The adapter of  claim 10 , wherein said anchoring mechanism further comprises a deflection amplifier means ( 26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 ) for diverting said withdrawal force to a lateral force and transmitting said lateral force to said pins, and wherein said lateral force increases said angular deflection of said pins thereby increasing the attachment of said pins. 
     
     
       14. A method for locking and unlocking an electrical plug in a power outlet, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a locking device ( 10 ) that includes
 a locking receptacle ( 112 ) in a first side having a clamping mechanism ( 54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 ) and terminal contacts ( 42 ,  44 ) therein, said receptacle being capable of receiving and releasably locking said electrical plug; 
 a male connector ( 114 ) in a second side having a plurality of deflectable conductive pins ( 34 ,  36 ) with at least one having high friction surface at root ( 96 ,  98 ), said connector pins being mounted in a movable anchoring mechanism ( 38 ,  40 ) which is able to radially move at least one of said pins, said male connector being capable of anchoring into said power outlet when one or more of said pins is deflected; and 
 a body portion ( 50 ) for combining said two sides, said body being coupled with a rotatable sleeve ( 66 ) which is axially rotatable clockwise and counterclockwise for controlling said clamping mechanism and said anchoring mechanism simultaneously to lock or unlock respectively; 
 
 plugging said locking device into said power outlet such that said male connector pins are inserted into bores of said power outlet; 
 plugging said electrical plug into said locking receptacle in said second side of said locking device; 
 twisting said rotatable sleeve or said electric plug clockwise for;
 connecting electric power from said power outlet to said electrical plug through said connector pins and receptacle terminals; 
 urging said clamping mechanism to lock said electrical plug into said locking receptacle; 
 urging said anchoring mechanism of said male connector to deflect at least one of said pins to anchor into said power outlet bores; 
 
 wherein said electrical plug is connected and locked into said locking receptacle and said male connector is connected and anchored into said power outlet bores;
 twisting said rotatable sleeve or said electric plug counterclockwise for:
 disconnecting electric power to said electrical plug; 
 releasing said clamping mechanism; 
 urging said anchoring mechanism to align said connector pins with said outlet bores; 
 
 
 wherein said electrical plug unlocked and able to be unplugged, and said locking device is released and able to be unplugged.